One of the best ways to open up your mind and learn about other cultures is by travelling. Spending a weekend in Marrakesh or having a trip to Croatia. It’s also through travelling that you see the reality of what’s happening around the world and what’s at stake when it comes to issues like climate change.

Aggregator website Statista reports a rise in the number of eco-conscious travellers. About 81 per cent of those surveyed think that sustainability is important when travelling. As a budding eco-traveller yourself, you hold the power to minimize humanity’s environmental footprint on the planet and contribute to movements like sustainable tourism.

Environmental Footprint When Traveling

Here are six impactful ways to make your travel adventures not only memorable for you but also more environmentally friendly:

1)  Take the Road Less Traveled

Some popular tourist destinations are responsible for a hefty environmental cost. Take, for example, Venice in Italy. Due to the sheer volume of visitors, the city’s architecture has suffered erosion through the decades.

The island of Bali in Indonesia is another example of over-tourism taking a toll on the environment. Waste management and pollution are issues that weigh heavily on the native residents with so many tourists staying for such a long time on the island.

Choose the road less traveled to both escape the crowds and reduce the impact of mass tourism on fragile ecosystems. When planning your next travel itinerary, look for hidden gems and lesser-known destinations and find ways to support the local communities.

2)  Pack Eco-Friendly Essentials

The items we pack for our journeys can either contribute to environmental degradation or support sustainable practices. As such, say goodbye to single-use plastics and embrace eco-friendly essentials. Carry a reusable water bottle and your own set of travel utensils, and use eco-conscious toiletries with minimal packaging to reduce waste.

As for your clothing, avoid participating in the fast-fashion cycle. Opt for high-quality staples like travel-friendly leisurewear and shirts that are versatile, comfortable, and made sustainably.

If you intend to swim or snorkel in the ocean, use a brand of sunscreen that’s formulated for minimal damage to coral reefs. These usually use physical barriers like the active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect your skin from the sun.

Ultimately, all your small choices towards more eco-conscious travel can add up to a significant positive impact on the destinations you explore.

3)  Travel Slowly and Thoroughly

In a world that often prioritizes speed and efficiency, consider doing the opposite and adopting a slower pace for your travels. There are many benefits to slow travel, like being able to spend more time in one location and brokering a deeper connection to the local culture.

For your future travel experiences, choose quality over quantity. Savor each moment and leave a lighter impact on the environment to preserve it for future generations of travelers.

4)  Choose Greener Accommodations

Where you stay plays a crucial role in how eco-friendly your travel endeavors are. Opt for accommodations that are committed to green practices. You can look for hotels, hostels, or lodges with eco-certifications, energy-efficient initiatives, and waste reduction programs.

In most cases, these hotels and accommodations feature energy-efficient fixtures, solar power, organic food items, and other eco-friendly amenities. In supporting environmentally conscious establishments, you’ll be actively contributing to the preservation of local ecosystems.

5)  Use Energy-Efficient Modes of Transport

The mode of transportation you choose has a direct impact on your carbon footprint. When you travel, choose to get around on public transportation as often as you can. You can also look for electric or hybrid vehicles to use, or rent a bike to explore a town.

Consider the carbon emissions of your journey and opt for the most sustainable option available. Every step towards energy efficiency and reduced consumption of fossil fuels is a step toward a greener future.

6) Opt for Ethical Tours

Tourism can either uplift or harm local communities and ecosystems. Going on ethical tours ensures that your adventures leave a positive impact on the community that has the most at stake. In Thailand, for instance, you can see elephants at ethical sanctuaries that treat the animals with great respect. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, you can swim with whale sharks at Donsol instead of the more popular Oslob in Cebu. While it’s true that you may or may not actually encounter whale sharks at Donsol, the tour operators do not feed the sharks as they do in Oslob and therefore don’t interrupt the animals’ natural feeding patterns.

Also, choose tour operators committed to responsible tourism practice. Look online for operators who can walk the talk about preserving the cultural heritage and biodiversity of the local area.

Let your travels be a testament to the fact that every little effort to make life better for the planet will improve our collective future. Aim to leave a lighter footprint on your next trip, and inspire your fellow travelers to do the same.